General recursive function: Difference between revisions

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== Definition ==
 
Take as axioms the axioms of the [[primitive recursive function]]s, but extend the definitions so as to allow for [[partial function]]s. Add one further operator, the ''least'unbounded search'' or operator''unbounded search'' operator, defined as follows:
:If ''f''(''x'',''z''<sub>1</sub>,''z''<sub>2</sub>,...,''z''<sub>''n''</sub>) is a partial function on the [[natural numbers]] with ''n''+1 arguments ''x'', ''z''<sub>1</sub>,...,''z''<sub>''n''</sub>, then the function &mu;''x'' ''f'' is the partial function with arguments ''z''<sub>1</sub>,...,''z''<sub>''n''</sub> that returns the least ''x'' such that ''f''(0,''z''<sub>1</sub>,''z''<sub>2</sub>,...,''z''<sub>''n''</sub>), ''f''(1,''z''<sub>1</sub>,''z''<sub>2</sub>,...,''z''<sub>''n''</sub>), ..., ''f''(''x'',''z''<sub>1</sub>,''z''<sub>2</sub>,...,''z''<sub>''n''</sub>) are all defined and ''f''(''x'',''z''<sub>1</sub>,''z''<sub>2</sub>,...,''z''<sub>''n''</sub>) = 0, if such an ''x'' exists; if no such ''x'' exists, then &mu;''x'' ''f'' is not defined for the particular arguments ''z''<sub>1</sub>,...,''z''<sub>''n''</sub>.